Lions pound out 11-1 victory over BIC

Manila built a 6-0 lead after the first two innings en route to an 11-1 drubbing of Buffalo Island Central in high school baseball action Monday afternoon at Monette.

Manila's Frankie Cowgill led the game with a single, stole second and raced home on an RBI triple by Hunter Bryan, who led the Lions at the plate going 4-4 with a pair of RBIs. Winning pitcher Tray Malone drove in Bryan with an RBI single up the middle to make the score 2-0, and the Lions tacked on two more runs in the inning, including an RBI hit off the bat of Jacob Britt as Manila batted around.

Cowgill led off the Manila second with another single and added another stolen base. The speedy senior scored all the way from second base on a long sacrifice fly to centerfield by Michael Shedd. Bryan ripped a double to the gap in right center, stole third base and came home on a wild pitch by losing pitcher Blake Wheeler to up the Lion lead to 6-0.

Manila tacked on five more runs in the next three innings to put the game away with the 10 run rule after the fifth inning.

Bryan finished the day with a pair of triples, a double and a single and scored four runs to lead a potent Manila offensive attack. Cowgill finished the day 3-3 with four runs scored and stole five bases on the day. Malone, 4-0 on the season, picked up the win, allowing only one hit and a walk while striking out four batters in two innings of work.

Malone finished the day 2-3 at the plate, including a double, knocked in three runs and scored once.

Ben Cole led BIC at the plate going 2-3 with two stolen bases.

The Lions improved to 8-1 and 5-0 in 3A-3 conference play with a 6-3 league win over Tuckerman Wednesday afternoon on the road.

Hunter Bryan had another perfect day at the plate, going 3-3, and Tray Malone, 5-0, remained unbeaten on the season, picking up the win. Malone fanned nine Bulldogs while allowing only two walks and three runs, two earned. Malone scattered nine hits on the day. The junior also laced a pair of hits while driving in two runs. Bryan scored three times on the afternoon.

Tuckerman was led at the plate by Sam Sutherland and Jake Hitt who both went 2-3 on the day.

Manila will return to action Monday afternoon hosting Brookland in a 3A-3 conference doubleheader beginning at 3:30. The Lions will play Westside Thursday afternoon in a 4:00 non-conference game at Manila.

Buffalo Island Central returns to the diamond Tuesday with a road trip to Lepanto, facing East Poinsett County at 4:00. The Mustangs will host Turrell Wednesday afternoon, also at 4:00.